Manage Your Life

Sunday, November 29, 2009

The best cleaning supplies

Mikkel Vang

Mikkel Vang

Favorite sprays, wipes, tools, and nontoxic products.

Cleaners and Wipes

  • Method Daily Shower Spray, $4, methodhome.com for store locations. Use to prevent soap-scum buildup on shower walls.
  • Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, $5 for a canister of 35 wipes, available at grocery stores. Use on hard, nonwood surfaces―your sink, counters, refrigerator door, stove tops, tubs, and toilet exterior.
  • Windex Outdoor, $10 for 32 ounces, available at grocery and hardware stores. It attaches to your hose to clean windows; works even through screens and dries without streaking.
  • Windex Glass and Surface Wipes, $3.50 for 28 wipes, drugstore.com. Use on windows and chrome for quick cleanups.

From Real Simple: Surprising New Cleaning Solutions



Mikkel Vang

Mikkel Vang

Tools

  • Unger Mini Duster, $2.60, amazon.com. Perfect for cleaning keyboards, or any hard-to-get-at crevices.
  • Unger Total Reach Duster, $5.50, amazon.com―for tackling cobwebs and for behind the bed, the tops of furniture, and other out-of-reach places.
  • Clorox ReadyMop, $20, available at grocery stores and drugstores. Use on tile and wood floors.
  • OXO Good Grips Household Squeegee, $8, oxo.com. For the shower door and mirrors.
  • OXO Good Grips Scrub Brush, $6, oxo.com. Works effectively on tub and tile.

Learn How to Conquer Household Odors at Real Simple.





Peter Margonelli

Peter Margonelli

More Nontoxic Products

  • Enviro-Magic Mildew Stain Away Spray, $11 for 16 ounces, amazonpp.com. Use in the bathroom; it leaves no stains or rings.
  • Simple Clean Dirt-Collecting Microfiber Cloth, $2.50 for one, safehomeproducts.com―the no-chemical alternative to dusting.
  • Earth Friendly Products’ Orange Plus Concentrate cleaner, $4.50 for 17 ounces, ecos.com. It can be used on kitchen surfaces, floors, furniture, woodwork, and it can even clean your oven.
  • Caldrea’s Stainless Steel Spray, $11 for 11.8 ounces, caldrea.com. Works on stainless steel appliances, countertops, and sinks.
  • Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day All-Purpose Cleaner, $8.50 for 32 ounces, drugstore.com―an all-purpose cleaner that works on all nonporous surfaces.

More from Real Simple:
Surprising Household Cleaners
6 Stain-Busters That Really Work
How to Remove Crayon, Glue, and More Kid Stains

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 10
  • CarolB's Avatar
    Posted by CarolB Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:52pm PDT

    I use Shaklee products, they made green products before green was even cool. Also the cost is really economical. check out the cost comparison I did between green cleaners and common toxic cleaners at www.squidoo.com/cleanandgreen

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  • Betni's Avatar
    Posted by Betni Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:11am PDT

    The Clorox Green Works Toilet Bowl cleaner is the best ever! You don't even have to scrub. There was a rust stain in the bowl when I first moved into my apartment that I could never get rid of. I put Green Works in there and let it just sit for 20 mins. Came back and the bowl sparkled like new. However the glass cleaner streaks pretty bad.

    Report Abuse
  • Down Shift Magazine's Avatar
    Posted by Down Shift Magazine Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:49am PDT

    I have a "green" blog, and I have reviewed the method products, as seen here: http://mygreenscene.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/product-review-method-products/

    They are great! Check out my whole blog for interesting tips, tutorials, ideas and good information on living crafty and green!

    http://mygreenscene.wordpress.com

    Report Abuse
  • Ahleah G's Avatar
    Posted by Ahleah G Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:02am PDT

    Another product I love is the Mr Clean magic eraser. I have an old porcelain sink and porcelain clawfoot tub and it is the only thing that can get them really white. I usually scrub with regular cleaner before using it, and it is amazing to see the additional soap scum and stains come off with the magic eraser.

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  • daisy*kae's Avatar
    Posted by daisy*kae Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:03am PDT

    i LOVE method products! they're natural, safe to use w/o gloves, and have a wonderful smell! i use their all purpose cleaner in the kitchen. it has a nice crisp grapefruit scent. in my bathroom i used the shower cleanser listed above. i scrubbed down my shower really well first and now i just spray the shower and curtain when i'm done. i also love their wipes for the bathroom, they have a ylang ylang scent. i also use their bathroom cleaner that smells like cucumber. i buy all of their stuff at target.

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  • CarolB's Avatar
    Posted by CarolB Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:57am PDT

    buyer beware when buying products that claim to be "green", "natural", etc. These terms are not regulated in any way and are marketing ploys. You can check out the toxicity in your cleaning supplies by visiting the National Inst. Of Standards, household chemical database. You might be surprised.

    Report Abuse
  • Christina M's Avatar
    Posted by Christina M Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:09am PDT

    i love any "The Works!" products that sucker can clean off ANYTHING!

    Report Abuse
  • KirstinG's Avatar
    Posted by KirstinG Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:11pm PDT

    Its called vinegar, its about $1 and it cleans everything......geesh, why would people buy all this stuff?

    Report Abuse
  • missunderstood's Avatar
    Posted by missunderstood Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:40pm PDT

    scrubbin bubbles automatic shower cleaner..AWESOME

    Report Abuse
  • godson's Avatar
    Posted by godson Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:10pm PDT

    There's this pink spray cleaner that's called Holy Cow (it has a pic of a cow!) and it works on everything from bathrooms to kitchens even laundry stains. It's natural and has no funky smells. There's also a green one that's a degreser. It's hard to find but I found it @ ACE HARDWARE.

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Comments 1-10 of 10

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